2018: Year in review

I knew that going into 2018, it was going to be a very different year. I was 38 weeks pregnant as we started the year and were just finalizing the final details and meetings before #babyNegin was to join the party, and then Sterling decided to come early. He was born January 4th, and I’ll be working on a post discussing what I’ve learned in my first year of motherhood, but first I wanted to flash back on some of my blog highlights this year.

My Birth Story

Most blog posts and my social media content involved Sterling, I mean how could it not. I’ve fallen completely in love with this sweet and funny boy.

Our Son Sterling
(Photography by Scarlet O’Neill)

But it was a very different year of blogging for me, doing product reviews and sharing what I learned and what worked for this growing boy.

Infant Top 10 List

Good Enough to Eat

Feeding My Baby

When I did shoot, I tried my best and feel confident, but it wasn’t a year where I felt my best. I struggled with my health; recovering from both pregnancy and injury, back-to-back. So when my confidence was at its lowest, I pushed myself to face fears. This year I shot basically naked and allowed others to take control of my image. I quickly realized that shooting my own content for the past 6 years, meant I’ve always had the final say of which pictures were release or shared. Giving up that up wasn’t easy, but I’m learning to enjoy the process of releasing that control.

2018 easy. campaign shoot
(Photography by Jacqueline Ashton)

Junior Foxes SS18 Campaign
(Photography by Nicole Lewis)

Junior Foxes FW18 Campaign
(Photography by Nicole Lewis)

I also continued to decorate the house (#NeginNest) and shared my favourite room yet.

Sterling’s Nursery

Another post I have coming up is one about my goals for 2019. It will be another year of changes and transitions and I’m excited to get started on this exciting chapter. Leave a comment and let me know if there is anything you’d like to see on the blog, as I change things up.

 

Mama Mall: Hillcrest Glowup


Shot by @kaileemandel 


Shot by @kaileemandel 

Real talk. This summer was rough. As some of you know (if you follow me on IG), I broke my 5th metatarsal on my right foot pretty badly in mid-July and most of my summer dreams were crushed. I wasn’t allowed to swim, long walks were extremely painful, and driving was off-limits due to the cast (a walking one, thankfully).  Some days seemed impossible. I tried to make the most of out of my quiet summer and filled my days with Sterling cuddles, picnics, reading and singing to my sweet boy.

Thankfully, now that Sterling is fully on the move, (and I am as well), one of our first big trips out of the house was visiting one of my go-to mommy malls, Hillcrest. I grew up pretty close to Hillcrest Mall located in Richmond Hill and used to love it, but I moved away after high school and hadn’t really been back many times since. But when my girlfriend mentioned that you could get the H&M Mama line there, when I was in search of pregnancy overalls, I ran there ASAP and was shocked to see how much had changed. Hillcrest was had completed about 50% of their renovations at the time and you can see the beautiful new tiles and redesign of the space.

I soon found out that along with some of the newly open shops like Aritzia, Sporting Life and Starbucks, my favourite baby store West Coast Kids would be opening their second Toronto location during summer 2018. And just like that, Hillcrest quickly became my new go-to mall.

When I got invited to preview their new wing earlier this month, I was excited to hear all about the changes and check out what other stores had opened since I’d been there last. We strolled through the whole mall, peeking into stores like Sephora and Miniso and the newly renovated Hudson’s Bay.

As for us mamas, they have all the amenities to make it your most comfortable visit. With nursing rooms, bottle warming service and free diaper kits that are available at their Guest Experience. They also have parent parking available at all of the main entrances which are crucial for the upcoming colder months. And if you need to connect with Guest Experience you can text 226-210-1015 and ask any question.

The new wing is now open and includes a giant Home Sense and Marshalls (which opened last week), and an Indigo and Old Navy that will both open in the next few months. My friends who own the contemporary store Carbon, located just down the hall, just opened this month and has a beautiful assortment of the world’s most relevant brands, catering to men and women of all ages. The Japanese-styled cheesecake sensation, Uncle Tetsu also just opened their doors early and if you haven’t tried the super soft freshly baked cakes you must.

After the tour, I headed back to West Coast Kids to pick up some essentials for Sterling that I’ll be sharing on an upcoming blog post and took in all the beautiful thing that this spacious store has.

The West Coast Kids’ grand opening is coming up and I’ll be sharing the dates and details on my Instagram account and hope you can join me there and check out the new Hillcrest Mall.

What’s your super power?

I make milk. What’s your super power?

Dress: Ingrid & Isabel Double Layer Midi Dress + Nursing in True Navy

Being a style blogger for the past 6 years, I didn’t realize how much of my closet would change when becoming a mother. There were the obvious changes, like size, and for me it’s been harder than expected to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight as I’ve been suffering from patellar tendonitis on my left knee and for the last 10 weeks a broken right foot, but I’m not putting too much pressure on myself. Though, I think the biggest change was that I’ve needed my clothing to do more.

Shirt: Ingrid & Isabel Double Layer Woven Top + Nursing in Bright White

As a mom, who has exclusively nursed her son for the past 8 months, finding clothing that is nursing-friendly has been a struggle, especially being well-endowed. Many new moms can still adorn their button-up blouses, or many of their pre-baby clothing that allows for easy nursing while on-the-go, but for me this has been impossible.

 

Shirt: Ingrid & Isabel Off The Shoulder Maxi Dress in Blush

Luckily, I’ve partnered with the amazing maternity brand Ingrid & Isabel, and have a few key items that have been on serious rotation over the last few months that have allowed for me to discreetly feed my son. Specializing in trendy clothing to take you from your first trimester into your fourth (after baby is born), I became obsessed with their line of dresses and tops and this amazing jumpsuit that make nursing a breeze.

I must be honest, breastfeeding has been one of my favourite and least favourite parts of the last 8 months. I can feel the special time coming to an end as Sterling becomes more dependent on food and he approaches his first birthday. Which makes me feel excited to take back ownership of my body, but also saddens me as I’ll miss the cuddles and closeness that breastfeeding provides.

Sterling is wearing: Romper: Smash & Tess, Outfit: Target Cloud Island (pants, shirt), Hat: Hillcrest Mall 
I’m wearing: Visor: Kate Spade New York (old), Hat & shorts: Target (old), Frames: c/o Clearly (black) (pink)
Personalized backpack & duffle: c/o Ketzel Baby